Where charity and love are, there God is

April 3, 2009

In the liturgy for Maundy Thursday, the phrase “ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est” appears as a signficant focus. The translation, “Where charity and love are, there God is” reminds us of the command of Jesus to love one another (John 13:34). This “new commandment” (mandatum novum) given by Christ to the disciples is the mandate from which the Maundy Thursday service takes its name.

Christ’s example of how to love one another is seen in his service to his disciples as he humbly washed their feet, shared the passover meal with them, then allowed himself to be betrayed even unto death. Surely no greater love than this can be shown. Jesus’ words to his followers, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another,” call us to humbly care for one another’s needs, sacrificing our pride and position, even our own sense of righteousness, that others may experience the grace of God.

As we, the family of Peachtree Baptist Church gather to worship this Holy Week, I hope we will know the presence of God in a fresh and beautiful way. May we be willing to sacrifice even those things which we hold most important in order that people may know “there God is.”

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